Sheet-feeding machine.



APPLICATION FILED OUT.17, 1912.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

INVENTOR Jarama! /C /T @y MAM l ATTORNEY wlrlvEssEs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD IK. KING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CHAMBERS BROTHERS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SHEET-FEEDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Original application filed December 14, 1911, Serial No. 665,725. Divided and this application filed October 17, 1912. Serial No. 726,207.

Ition, Serial N o. 665,725, filed December 14,

1911, of which this application is a division. That is to say, my invention is especially applicable to sheet delivering machines employing means, controlled -by suitable calipering mechanism, for automatically separating the color printed sheets and the interposed blank slip sheets and to deliver the same into separate piles.

This invention comprises a sheet calipering device and associated mechanism, affected by the difference in thickness between the printed sheets and the slip sheets, for controlling suitable switching or other mechanism for effecting the separation and delivery to different classes of sheets.

It also comprises improved sheet retarding means and other details of construction.

It will be understood that while I have shown the invention as applied to a sheet delivering machine of the slip sheet type, it may obviously be employed for other analogous uses.

Referring to the drawings-l `igure 1 is a sectional view showing the application of my, invention to a machine of the form shown in my said copending .applicationl Fig. 21's a side elevation ot' the calipering device, on an enlarged scale, showing the air passages in section with the escape nozzle closed. F ig. 3 is a vertical section of same,

` showing the' escape nozzle open. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the structure shown in `Figs-2 and 3. Fig. is a plan View of same. Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective shoW-" ing the switch in a. different 'position from points of the different that shown in Fig. l. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the sheet retarding means.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In describing the present invention it will be understood that the sheets from the pile 8 are combed forward to the drop and feed rollers 9 and' 10 in the usual manner and by. mechanism similar to that shown in my Patent No. 789,809 of May 16, 1905. The relative positions of the drop and feed rollers 9 and 10, with respect to the mechanism of the present invention, is'shown in Fig. 1.

It will be understood that the pile of sheets 8 is composed of printed sheets and' slip sheets normally alternately arranged. In order that the machine may work automatically, irrespective of the arrangement of the slip sheets and the printed sheets, it is necessary that the thickness of one set of sheets differs from that of the other. The present mechanism will be described, merely by way of example, as operating upon slip sheets which are thicker than the printed sheets.

As the sheet reaches the drop and feed rollers 9 and 10, it passes between the ele-"i ments 11 and 12 of the calipcring device. One element of the calipering device controls an air vent 13 in a suitable pneumatic system, not part of the present invention and therefore not shown in this application, but clearly shown and described in my said copending application.

Referring especially now to Figs. 1 to 4., sleeve 25 of the calipcring device is adjustably secured to the Vsupporting member or rod 2G, which is connected with the stationary framework. This sleeve 25 supports the bifurcatcd guides 27 between which is trunnioned at 28, the caliper element 11. Integral With caliper element 11 is the upwardly extending arm 29, controlled by the spring 30 and having the surface portion 31 adapted to engage and close the end of nozzle or air vent 13. ,'By suitable adjustmentK of the` uide 27, which is secured by the Agraduate nut '32, threaded onthef rod 26, the required space between the caliper elements 11 and 12 is secured.

lhe spring 33 is provided within the rod 2G and pressed upon the lower part ot the sleeve and serves to take up all play bex tween the adjustable nut the rod 726 and the sleeve 25.

The spring 30 normally n'iaintains the part 81 of arm 29 against the end ot' nozzle 13. 1t will be noted that the nozzle 13 serves as a stop for the arm '29, and consequently for the calipering element 11.

lln the position ot' arm 291 resting against nozzle 13, by a suitable aojustment ol;l sleeve 25, a sullicient clearance is provided between the caliper elements l1 and 12 for the pas sage therebetween of the thinner of the two sets of sheets, whereas when a thicker sheet, :for example a slip sheet, is presented to the calipering elements, there is not sullicient clearance, while the said caliper elements are in said normal posi ion. rthe result is that by the engagement of the movable caliper element by the thicker sheet, said element is moved into the position shown in Fig. 3, carrying part 251 of arm 29 away from nozzle 13 and thereby opening said nozzle vent 13.

The spring 30 is connected at its upper end to the pin 311, which is slidably mounted tor the purpose oli' adjusting the tension ot the spring. The spring 30 is connected at its lower end with the arm 29 and, as stated above, normally maintains the part 31 of arm 2S) against the end of nozzle 13, and hence normally maintains the caliper element 11 in its lowest position. l't should be noted also, that spring 230, due to the direction ot' its pull or tension maintains the trunnions against the upper surfaces of their bearings and thus takes up all possible play ol the caliper element.

l have shown the sheet switching element 1-1; in Figs. 1 and 6, as an example ol the useful application, of the pneumatically actuated mechanism automatically controlled by calipering means, ail'ccted by the didier-v ences in the thickness of the sheets operated upon.

rlhe switch 1&1 is capable or" two positions, that shown in Fig. 1 and that shown in l? i g. 6. The position of the switch is controlled by any suitable pneumatically operated means, not shown or claimed in this application', but fully described in my said copending application. 1t will be understood however that whatever the pneumatically operated mechanism employed for controlling the position of switch 1e, the operation of such mechanism is controlled by controlling the vent of'nozzle 13 of the caliper as above described. 1t will therefore be clear that depending upon whether or not the sheet is thick enough to actuate the movable caliper element to open the nozzlevent, the travel ot the sheet will be as follows:- From the drop and feed rollers 8 and 9 through rollers 15 and 16 on suitable tapes :35 between rollers 17 and 18 to stop 19 whence, according to the position oi' switch 1l., either as in Fig. 1 over the incline 20 o the switch 11 and rods 21 and beneath the tapes 10; or. when switch 11 is in the position shown in lEig. G, the sheet is deflected between the switch and roller 18 and between lrods and As the sheets pass through the drop and :feed rollers 15 and 16 they are carried along Vthe tapes 35 beneath the rods 36 toward the drop and feed rollers 17 and 1S and the stop 19. ln order however to reduce the speed of travel of 'the sheets alongr tapes 33 just prior to their striking the stop 1S), l provide the following mechanism z---Tlie wheel 37 is provided with a projection 38, with which projection the wheel '39 is adapted to cooperate. Wheel 39 is pre tei-ably mounted on a spring controlled support, as shown in Fig. 7, and provided with a yielding surface having suitable frictional qualities, such as rubber. The diam.- eter and speed or revolution of wheel 37 are so related that the projection 3S will engage each sheet f1 gainst the wheel 39, just previous to the lront edge ot the sheet reaching the stop ll?. so as to reduce or check the speed of the traveling sheet just prior to its engagement with said stop 19, in order to pre vent injury to the sheet or the violent re-. bound thereof. llpon reaching the stop 19, the sheet is brought into proper register and then carried either over the incline surface '2O of switch 1l or between surface Q2 of the switch and roller 18, as above described.

that 'l claim is :M

1. "lhe combination with sheet feeding means ol slow down means 'for checking the speed of travel of the sheets comprising cooperating rotative elements, one resiliently supported and the other provided with a projection adapted with each rotation thereolE to engage the sheet against Ythe periphery of the idler.

Q. .t calipering device for sheet delivering control, comprising lixed and movable cali pei-ing elements between which the sheet travels, a vertically extending stationary supporting rod, vertici lly extending sleeve supported thereon and supporting a caliper ing element, and means for securing relative vertical adjustn'ient between the sleeve and the rod.

il. A calipering device for pneumatic sheet delivery control comprising normally lixed and movable caliper-ing elements between which the sheet travels, a ixed hollow rod. a sleeve adjustably secured to the hollow rod and supporting a calipering element and means for adjusting the position of the sleeve on the hollow rod, comprising an adjusting nut and a springA operating between the 4rod and sleeve to take up wear or lost motion. I

'/1. A calipering device for pneumatic sheet delivery control comprising normally fixed and movable calipering elements between which the sheet travels, a fixed hollow rod, a sleeve adj ustably secured to the hollow rod and supporting a calipering element and means for adjusting the position of the sleeve on the hollow rod, comprising a graduated adjusting nut operating between the rod and sleeve.

5. A calipering device for pneumatic control of sheet feeding machines, comprising cooperating calipering elements, one element being pivotally mounted and having integral therewith a nozzle closing member, and 'a spring for normally controlling the pivotally lmounted element and adapted to maintain the same with the upper side of the pivot against the upper side of its bearing.

G. In a calipering device for sheet delivery control, the combination of a supporting member provided with a recess, a sleeve `about said member, a guide connected with the sleeve, a caliper element connected with the guide, a spring within the recess in the supporting member and operating between saidmember and the sleeve, and means foradjusting the sleeve relatively to the supporting member.

7. In a calipering device for sheet delivery control, the combination of a supporting member, a sleeve adj ustably connected therewith, a spring between the supporting member and the sleeve, a bifurcated guide connected with the sleeve and a caliper element connected with the guide.

8. In a calipering device for sheet deliv ery control, the combination of a supporting member and a cooperating sleeve member, one of said members being normally fixed and the other relatively movable with vre spect thereto, a caliper element operatively connected with said movable member, means operatively mounted on one member and engaging the other member for causing the relative vertical adjustment therebetween, and means for taking up play between the adjusting means and the parts controlled thereby.

9. In a calipering device for sheet delivery control, the combination of a supporting member and a cooperating sleeve member, one of said members being normally fixed and the other member being relatively movable with respect thereto, a caliper element operatively connected with one of said members, a nut secured to the other of said members and means for taking up play between the parts.

10. In a calipering device for sheet de livery control, the combination of a normally ixed supporting member and a cooperating sleeve member having a springcontrolled relative adjustment with respect thereto, and a caliper clement connected with the sleeve member.

11. In a calipering device for sheet delivery control, the combination of a normally fixed member, a cooperating relatively movable. member', a bifurcated guide connected therewith, a caliper element movablv connected with the guide and provided wit a rigid extension, and spring means connected with said extension for normally maintaining the caliper element in position to be actuated by the advancing sheet.

. 12. In a calipering device for sheet delivery control, the combination with an air vent, of a pivotally supported calipering element provided with an extention, spring means for maintaining said extension in operati ve engagement with the air vent and against its pivot bearing, to prevent lost motion, and means for varying the spring tension.

13. In a calipering device for sheet delivery control, the combination with an air vent, of a movable calipering clement provided with an extension, and adjustable means for controlling said extension rela-l tively to the air vent comprising an adjustable pin and a spring between the pin and said extension. l

14. A calipering device for sheet movement control, comprising calipering elements Iflanking the path of travel of the sheet, a stationary support, a sleeve movable therealong and supporting a calipering elcment, and means for adjusting the position of the sleeve along said support to vary the distance between the calipering elements.

15. In a sheet feeder and distributer, the combination of feed rollers, carrying tapes and stops, two cooperating slow down elements, one at either side of the path of travel, of the sheets, one of said elements adapted to travel at a slower speed than that of the feed rollers and carrying tapes, said element provided with a projection adapted to cooperate with the other slow down element to check the speed of travel of the sheets just prior to their engaging the stop, one of said cooperating slow down elements being resiliently supported.

16. In a sheet feeder and distributer, the combination of feed rollers, carrying tapes and stops, two cooperating slow down elements, one at either side of the path of travel of the sheets, one of said elements ada ted to travel at a slower speed than that o the feed rollers and carrying tapes, said element provided with a projection adapted to cooperate with the other slow down element to eheckthe speed of travel of the sheets just prio? $0 their engaging' the stop, the below 'bhe normal speed of trave of be l0 @tha of sind Qwpmatulg slow down ee- Sheet and provlde-d Wlth a pojscbmn BX manifs pmurlw with n jy'leldmg surface or aendlug beyond lts perlphely, the other @hy pezphnry inning nimble rictomll qua'i ment reslently Supported and having a in the path of 'uw A wf ih@ sheets, mpris MAE HOFMANN, 111g' a pam' of whew, (me duvel) af az speed HOWARD S. KIE. 

